Senator Shaheen discusses importance of community health centers

BERLIN - Senator Jeanne Shaheen touted the critical role
community health centers play in health care and the importance the centers
will play in the future of health care during a visit to Berlin.

Thursday afternoon Shaheen stopped at Coos County Family
Health Services, in Berlin, to make brief remarks about health care issues and
tour the facility. She stressed the role community health centers would play in
the future due to changes made by Affordable Care Act.

"[I want to] let everyone throughout the country know
what a difference community health centers make," said Shaheen.

The health care act would increase the amount of money
spent on community health centers, according to Shaheen.

She said people are getting the bang for their buck with
community health centers because of the quality care they provide and a low
expense.

Shaheen said the health care reform would improve quality
and accessibility of care and address the rising costs of care.

"We need to make sure we have the providers we need not
just in urban areas... but in rural parts of the state," said Shaheen.

Kuenning said there are 16 community health centers
across the state that service more than 110,000 patients annually. She added on
the national level, health centers provide care for 20 million people.

As the Affordable Health Care Act comes into effect, she
said the health centers hope to see the number of patients double throughout
the next fi ve years.

Before Shaheen's remarks, Kuenning presented her with
awards from the Bi-State Primary Care Association and the National Association
of Community Health Centers.

"There hasn't been any time she hasn't supported
community health centers," said Kuenning. "We're grateful for all the work
she's done."

Shaheen recently announced that $150,000 to help build
the new C.C.F.H.S. offi ce in Gorham is attached to 2011 Labor- Health and
Human Services Appropriation bill. The bill is headed towards a vote before the
full Senate.

Shaheen said she'll continue to support local health
centers their needs in the future.